The Mummy: The Animated Series

The Mummy: The Animated Series
Genre	Action Adventure
Created by	Stephen Sommers
Developed by	Universal Cartoon Studios
Directed by	Eddy Houchins Dick Sebast
Voices of	Chris Marquette Grey DeLisle Tom Kenny John Schneider Jim Cummings Michael Reisz Nicholas Guest
Composer(s)	George Gabriel Cory Lerios
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	26
Production
Executive producer(s)	Stephen Sommers
Producer(s)	Diane A. Crea Joe Barruso Greg Klein Thomas Pugsley
Running time	30 minutes
Production company(s)	Universal Media Studios The Sommers Company Rough Draft Studios
Broadcast
Original channel	Kids' WB!
Original run	September 29, 2001 (2001-09-29) – June 7, 2003 (2003-06-07)
Chronology
Preceded by	The Mummy Returns
Followed by	The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
External links
Website

The Mummy: The Animated Series is an animated television series produced by Universal Animation Studios to capitalize on the success of The Mummy.

It premiered on Kids' WB! On the The WB network on September 29, 2001. It is set sometime between 1920 and 1934. The characters and plot were derived from the film, but the series could not replicate its success, efforts to make it consistent with real-world features were almost non-existent as, for example, Lake Titicaca is described as both puma-head shaped and as being found below the ruins of Macchu Picchu (Episode: The Cloud People). The poor quality of the animation disappointed fans of the special effects-laden movie. It was retooled and rechristened The Mummy: Secrets of the Medjai for its second season, which began on February 15, 2003. Although the quality is considered to have improved between the first and second seasons, the show failed to find an audience and was cancelled on June 7, 2003. Reruns of the show aired on Toon Disney. The entire series was released on DVD in America R1 in three volumes on July 22, 2008.

Storyline

Based loosely on hit movies The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, the O'Connells find themselves being chased around the world by the undead corrupt High Priest, Imhotep, and his lackey, Colin Weasler, while trying to get the Manacle of Osiris off Alex's wrist. This takes their trip across the world, trying to locate the lost scrolls of Thebes, the only things that can remove the manacle. However, the scrolls had to be destroyed to prevent Imhotep from possessing the manacle. Now in the second season, Alex is trained as a Medjai to combat the mummy as well as facing new threats along the way.

Characters

• Alex O'Connell (voiced by Chris Marquette) - A 11-year-old boy with a fantastic imagination and boundless curiosity. Alex possesses the best, and sometimes the worst traits of both parents. Homeschooled by Evy, he knows ancient histories and languages incredibly well for his age. Alex also inherited his father's brashness, sense of humor and adventurous spirit, and frequently these traits will get him into hot water. But just because he has adventuring in his genes doesn't mean that Alex isn't an 13-year old at heart. He is smart and witty, but not cocky or sophisticated. In a dire situation, Alex is often scared and vulnerable but overcomes his fears to show the strength of his heroic character. Like a young Rube Goldberg, Alex is also a mechanical whiz. He rigs up unique devices using objects he finds from his environment to get his family out of precarious situations...even situations he's caused himself. Alex also rigs up stuff just for the fun of it, e.g. creating the 1930s equivalent of makeshift skateboards and boogie boards. Alex possesses poise and humor beyond his years, but remains pure kid at heart. He still has kid-relatable problems like homework, lack of friends and issues with mom and dad...he just has to deal with them while being chased by ghouls, gremlins and zombies. As the series progresses, Alex slowly learns how to control a select few of the Manacle's powers through trial and error. But with these low level powers comes an awesome responsibility, one that Alex does not take lightly despite his tender years. Experience teaches Alex there's no greater enemy than Imhotep and that for the good of humanity, the Mummy must be stopped.
• Rick O'Connell (voiced by John Schneider) - Alex's father and Evy's husband.
• Evy O'Connell (voiced by Grey DeLisle) - Alex's mother and Rick's wife. Just like the movie, Evy is the reincarnation of the Egyptian princess Nefertiri.
• Jonathan Carnahan (voiced by Tom Kenny) - Alex's uncle, Evy's brother and Rick's brother-in-law.

Allies

• Ardeth Bey (voiced by Nicholas Guest) - Leader of the Medjai. In the second season, he and the other Medjai train Alex, Fadil, Yanit, and other students to be the next generation of Medjai.
• Fadil (voiced by Jeff Bennett) - A boy who is a student at becoming a Medjai.
• Yanit (voiced by Jeannie Elias) - A girl who is a student at becoming a Medjai.
• The Minotaur (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) - A Medjai who chose to become a minotaur to protect the Scrolls of Thebes from Napoleon. He dwelled beneath Paris' catacombs, until he encountered the O'Connells. The Minotaur was thought to be buried by rubble, only to resurface in the series finale, where he helped the O'Connells stop Imhotep from raising the Army of Anubis.
• Jack O'Connell (voiced by Charles Napier) - Rick's father, whom he is estranged from until "Like Father, Like Son". He is revealed to be a Medjai, meaning that both Rick and Alex have Medjai blood.

Villains

• Imhotep (voiced by Jim Cummings) - The title character and the main villain of the series. Many years ago, Imhotep was a priest who wanted to rule the world. He was already the keeper of the Scrolls of Thebes. When he was about to steal the Manacle of Osirus, the Pharaoh sent his royal guards to capture him and sentence him to be buried alive. Years later, Imhotep was resurrected by Colin Weasler (see below), despite Evy's attempt to destroy him. He plots to seek the Scroll of Thebes in order to remove the Manacle of Osirus from Alex. When it comes to the fight in the Paris Catacombs where the Scrolls of Thebes are, he does regain them before they end up destroyed by Alex using the Manacle's power to bring a torch underneath the Scroll of Thebes. Though he was thought dead when fighting the Minotaur when the catacombs flooded. Imhotep managed to survive and strove to find other ways to conquer the world.
  • Colin Weasler (voiced by Michael Reisz) - Imhotep's Renfield-like servant and Evy's co-worker/rival from the museum. In his 20's, Weasler is younger than Evy. He was always picked on at school and as a result hides a huge inferiority complex. Driven by blind ambition, Weasler's a liar and a backstabber and jealous of Evy's archaeological fame. Craving power and respect, fame over fortune, it is Weasler who summons up Imhotep in the name of revenge on Evy. But once the Mummy is summoned, Weasler quickly realizes he has gotten way more than he bargained for. He has two options, either serve Imhotep or be his first victim. Weasler wisely chooses the former. Throughout the series, Weasler is the guy who talks tough while he's standing behind Imhotep. As time goes on, Weasler becomes more greedy, believing that if he devotes himself to Imhotep, the Mummy will reward him once he takes over the world. During Imhotep's apparent demise following his fight with the Minotaur in the Catacombs of Paris, Colin was shown writing comics and claiming to be Imhotep's servant when Imhotep returns. Although Weasler is your typical, annoying, egotistical, self-righteous, cowardly "yes" man to Imhotep, occasionally he's a physical threat to the O'Connells. He has also been considered by many fans to be the animated version of Beni Gabor from The Mummy.
• Anck-Su-Namun (voiced by Lenore Zann) - The former lover of Imhotep, who was mummified for betraying the Pharaoh and murdering Princess Nefertiri. She was revived by Imhotep by throwing her body into the Lake of Eternity. He needed her to locate the Scythe of Anubis, which she and Nefertiri hid away long ago. But when they acquired the scythe, Anck-Su-Namun betrayed Imhotep, refusing to be subordinate to him. However, Nefertiri, who has resurfaced in Evy's body, called on Anubis to reclaim what's his. Anck-Su-Namun, refusing to let go of her prize, went down into the Underworld with Anubis. However, Ardeth believed that they have not seen the last of her. Anck-Su-Namun resurfaced in "Old Friends" and took a magic ring, enabling her to steal the youth from others to regenerate herself before going after the Manacle. The O'Connells are able to stop her and managed to send her back to the Underworld.
• Ninzam Toth (voiced by Michael T. Weiss) - A Dark Medjai who betrayed the other Medjai and was imprisoned for his actions. After escaping, he plots revenge on every Medjai. He was defeated by Alex, Yanit, and Fadil, but returns to continue his vengeance on the Medjai.
• Scarab (voiced by Rene Auberjonois) - A monstrous scarab-like creature that was sealed away in the Scarab Amulet by the powers of the Manacle of Osiris.
• Ki-Nai - A one million year old witch who claimed beautiful and important Goddesses in the Shadow Land.

Episodes

Season 1

1. The Summoning
2. A Candle in the Darkness
3. Against the Elements
4. The Deep Blue Sea
5. Eruption
6. Orb of Aten
7. The Black Forest
8. The Cloud People
9. Fear Itself
10. The Boy Who Would Be King
11. Howl
12. The Puzzle
13. The Maze

Season 2

1. A New Beginning: Part I
2. A New Beginning: Part II
3. The Dark Medjai
4. Like Father, Like Son
5. A Fair to Remember
6. The Enemy of My Enemy
7. The Cold
8. Time Before Time
9. Spring of Evil
10. Trio
11. Old Friends
12. Just Another Piece of Jewelry
13. The Reckoning

See also

• The Mummy
• The Mummy Returns
• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

External links

• The Mummy: The Animated Series at epguides.com
• ISN Anchor Desk: The Mummy
• The Mummy: The Animated Series - Pazsaz Entertainment Network
• The Mummy: The Animated Series at the Internet Movie Database
• The Mummy: The Animated Series at TV.com